No! Keep it that way, you'll need that period to work on your college applications. Colleges understand. They don't even see that, they just see your grade point average, SAT/ACT scores and extracurriculars.

I go to UAlbany so i can't help you with the school specifically, but the area is definitely a college town. There are about 10 colleges i can think of right in the area with tons of students. If you like night-life there are tons of...